Pessary



(No Model.)

' G. J. GLADMAN.

PESSARY.

Patented Mar. 3, 1896.

WITNESSS ATT0RNEY3,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE J. GLADIVIAN, OF SYRACUSE, NEIV YORK.

PESSARY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 555,695, dated March 3,1896.

Applicatio fil d December 31, 1894- Serial No. 533,436. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE J. GLADMAN, of Syracuse, in the county ofOnondaga, in the State of New York, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Pessaries, of which the following, taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in pessaries, and has for itsobject the produc tion of a device for holding the uterus in its normalposition, which is readily inserted, adjustable to any size of neck,simple in construction, and economically manufactured; and to this endit consists essentially in the construction and arrangement of the partsof the pessary, all as hereinafter more particularly described, andpointed out in the claims.

In describing this invention reference is had to the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part of this specification, in which like lettersindicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is an enlarged elevation of the pessary, its lateral wingsbeing folded downwardly for facilitating passage through the vagina.Fig. 2 is a sectional view, partly in elevation, of the detached lowerextremity of my pessary, the movable lateral wings thereof be ing shownin substantially a horizontal plane; and Fig. 3 is a top plan view ofthe parts as seen at Fig. 2.

It is well known that the uterus is subjected to various displacementsand that different forms of pessaries have been devised for causing theuterus to assume its normal position. These devices are so constructedas to embrace the neck of the uterus and depend for their support uponthe walls of the vagina or out side supporting devices, which areinconvenient and annoying in use. Moreover, the necks of uteri varyconsiderably and often are more or less enlarged, and great difficultyis experienced in selecting or making a pessary of the proper size toclosely fit the neck, which it is designed to embrace. It is also verydiffir cult to place pessaries of the ordinary construction in theirdesigned position, as, if provided with a cup-shaped body for engagingthe neck of the uterus, more or less difficulty is experienced in thepassage of said body.

By my present invention the desired rigidity is imparted to the uterusfor preventing its flexions and versions by a longitudinal stem whichenters its cavity, and the support of the stem is facilitated by twoindependent solid lateral wings, each having a concave upper face, whichwings engage the neck of j the uterus and are movable upwardly ordownwardly for adjusting the pessary to any size of neck or facilitatingits passage through the vagina. These wings are held close to the neckand in their proper position by the intrapelvic pressure, and thisaction is greatly facilitated by the curvature of the arms.

At Fig. 1 my improved pessary A is shown as consisting of the stem 00and movable wings a 0, The stem a is shown as of considerable length,but may obviously be somewhat shorter, if desired. Its lower extremityis formed of substantially the same diameter throughout above itsprojecting base, presently described, and its upper extremity preferablygradually increases in diameter from the central portion of the stem tothe upper rounded end of said extremity. A stem of this constructionreadily enters the uterine cavity and closely fits the inner os, inorder that the pessary may give the desired rigidity to the uterus.

The wings a a which are each formed respectively with concave and convexupper and lower faces, a a are preferably substantially circular inplan, and their adjacent edges are provided with projecting ends hingedby pivots a to a transversely-projecting base a at the lower extremityof the stem a. The base a is of greater width than the diameter of theadjacent extremity of the stem a, and the adjacent ends of the wings a aare preferably of substantially the same width as said base, as clearlyseen at Fig. 3. Opposite edges of the base a are formed with fixedlateral arms (0 which are arranged with their upper faces insubstantially the same horizontal plane as the upper face of the base a.The arms a enter cut-outs or grooves a in the adjacent ends of the wingsa a and receive the pivots a the opposite ends of which are passedthrough inwardly-projecting cars a on the wings arranged at oppositesides of the arms a Said pivot-pins are of resilient material, so thattheir spring action presses the ears a against the sides of the basewith a yielding pressure sufficient to hold the wings normally inhorizontal position. The base a is formed with bearing-faces (t atopposite sides of its arms a, arranged adjacent to the cars a, andinclining downwardly toward each other, and the lower edges of theadjacent faces of said ears are preferably formed rounding and theirupper edges more or less sharp for forming cam-faces adapted to engagethe faces a and retard somewhat, yet permit the upward movement of thewings a a The latter are normally arranged in planes eX- tendingupwardly from said base with the adjacent ends of their upper faces insubstantially the same horizontal plane as the upper faces of the baseand the fixed lateral arms.

As clearly seen in the drawings, the wings a a are of unequal length,and when my improved pessary is inserted through the vagina intooperative position said wings are folded downwardly, as clearly seen atFig. 1, and the lower endof the wing o of greatest length projectsbeyond the corresponding end of the wing a. \Vhen the stem (1. isinserted within the czwity of the uterus the wings a a are movedupwardly until their concave faces engage the neck of the uterus, thelonger wing, a supporting the posterior portion thereof and the otherwing, a, supporting the anterior portion. The upward movement of thewings a a? is greatly facilitated, owing to their unequal length, as thelower end of the wing of greatest length may be first engaged andafterward the corresponding end of the opposite wing. Moreover, thevagina extends upwardly a greater distance at one side of the uterusthan at the other, and by forming the wings a a of unequal length thepessary is enabled to fit the neck of the uterus more closely than wouldotherwise be possible.

My improved pessary may be readily inserted to operative position withthe exercise of a minimum degree of skill, and maybe worn continuouslyuntil the uterus assumes its normal position, when it may be withdrawnat will.

\Vhen my pessary is in use its stem enterin g the uterine cavity isengaged by the walls of the inner 0s and its movable lateral wingsengage the neck of the uterus. Therefore the pessary is firmly securedto the uterus, and there is no liability of independent movement of theuterus and consequent chafing thereof. In removing my pessary it isfirst withdrawn a sufiieient distance to permit the lateral wings to befolded upwardly opposite to the position shown in Fig. 1 in full lines,and it is then removed with great case.

If worn continuously the device is readily cleansed without removal bysubjecting the vagina to a hot-water douche, or the pessary may bewithdrawn at will for suitable cleansing. The escape of the secretionsfrom the uterus is greatly facilitated by the peculiar construction ofthe hinged lateral wings of the pessary, and liability of the lodgmentof secretions between said wings and the neck of the uterus is reducedto a minimum.

The operation of my invention will be read ily understood upon referenceto the foregoing description and the aeeompanyin drawings, and it willbe particularly noted that I do not restrict myself to the exact size orshape of the stem or the hinged lateral wings.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. As a new article of manufacture, the herein-described pessary, thesame consisting of a longitudinal stem for entering the uterine cavity,a transversely-projectingbase secured to the lower end of the stem, apair of solid movable lateral wings of unequal length formed withconcave upper faces for engaging the neck of the uterus, said wingsbeing substantiallycircular in plan with their inner ends of the samewidth as that of said base, and pins pivotally connecting the inner endsof said wings with opposite sides of the base and by their spring actionholding the wings in normal position, substai'itially as and for thepurpose described.

2. As a new article of manufacture, the herein-described pessary, thesame consisting of a longitudinal stem a for entering the uterinecavity, a transversely-projecting base a having fixed lateral arms aextending from opposite edges thereof, with their upper faces arrangedin substantially the same horizontal plane as the upper face of saidbase, said edges having bearing-faces a at opposite sides of the arms,solid lateral wings a a each having a cut'out at its inner end betweentwo ears a, the cut-out receiving an arm and the bearing-facescontacting with the cars so as to permit the downward folding of thewings and retard but permit their upward folding, said wings beingformed with a concave upper face a for engaging the neck of the uterusand normally arranged in planes curving upward from said base with theadjacent ends of their upper faces in substantially the same horizontalplane as the upper faces of the base and its fixed lateral arms, and apivot-pin a through each pair of: cars and the interposed arm, as andfor the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name, in the presence oftwo attest ing witnesses, at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, in theState of New York, this 26th day of December, 1894.

G EORGE .l'. GllAl )M AN.

Witnesses:

E. A. Wmsnuno, K. H. THEOBALD.

